THE Republic of Fiji Military Forces Band was more than just a band and the band members have proven this over the years.
From being stretcher bearers in the Malayan Emergency in the 1950s, the RFMF Band has been part of peacekeeping missions for almost 40 years starting with initial deployment in 1978. To date, the RFMF Band is actively taking part in all peacekeeping missions.
Not only has the RFMF Band performed its core role but for almost as that long have been providing entertainment to soldiers and several times have been the only band around during the missions. This made the band very busy. After normal operations, the band had to provide entertainment and be party to medal parades.
In 1971, a spinoff from the RFMF Band, the Queen Elizabeth Serenaders was formed. This happened after members of the band start congregating at the Officers’ Mess and singing tunes to jive up the atmosphere at the QEB. In 1983, the QEB Serenaders went on to record their first and only album.
After its inaugural Edinburgh Tattoo in 1965, the RFMF Band has made several tours abroad the most recent one being in June 2017, when the band played at the Ocean Conference of the United Nations. Each of these trips had been a learning and memorable journey for the band members.
Band deployment to United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
In 1981, the RFMF Band was deployed to UNIFIL (Lebanon) for six months and was known as the Band of the 1st Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment under the baton of Captain Eliki Nukutabu. Apart from doing the same grind with the other Fijian soldiers they were also used for Public Relations in the Fiji Battalion Area of Operation, an exercise was deemed beneficial to the modus operandi of the Fiji Battalion. Upon their return, individual bandsmen returned to UNIFIL either as riflemen or other trades in the army which they had attained through courses attended within the RFMF. The band lost two of its bandsmen. Bandsman Isoa Tulega in 1980, who was medic for the Charlie Company, died during an ambush and Corporal Taito Gukivuli in a motor vehicle accident in 1995.
Band deployment with the Multinational Forces and Observers, Sinai Egypt
In 1982, the RFMF Band made another tour of duty to the Middle East and this time to the Multinational Forces and Observers in the Sinai desert, Egypt for a six-month stint. They were known then as the 2nd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment Band under the baton of Warrant Officer Class One Luke Tamani. Their primary role was to man observations posts like their counterparts or administrators in the Battalion and a few were seconded to the MFO HQ.
It was their secondary role that played a larger part in the battalion likewise to the whole MFO. As the only brass band in operation in this theatre, it was required to attend to all functions such as medal parades for serving contingents such as the Americans, the Colombians, the Italian Navy and Canadians to name a few. The Dance Band provided music as required for entertainment in respective contingent clubs for functions. Since then a band consisting of 15 to 20 were posted to the 2nd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment every year. They became an integral part of the MFO from its inception till recently when the 2FIR was downsized. Likewise they repeatedly travelled to 1FIR (UNIFIL) either for their medals parade or Fiji Day celebration crossing Israel from the North to the South before reaching the Rosh Hanikra Border crossing into Lebanon. Due to their unequivocal brand MFO force commanders through the years took pride in the band and termed it their own.
A highlight of these deployments was the year 1993. 20 Bandsmen under the directorship of Warrant Officer Class Two Jale Daucakacaka, were deployed to the 2nd Battalion Fiji Infantry Regiment (MFO). The Fijibatt Commander then was Lieutenant Colonel Ratu Meli Saubulinayau.
RFMF Band at the Israel Defence Force (IDF) Music Festival
The IDF Music Festival is a festival where all Israel Defence Division Bands either brass or military showcased their trade to a sellout crowd every year in Tel Aviv the capital of Israel. The MFO Force Commander, Major General Ferguson of Australia, was invited to attend the IDF Musical Festival. He in turn informed the IDF authorities that the 2FIR Band is to be included in their program.
The band was given 10 minutes to perform on stage. Within that 10 minutes, the band decided to do a marching display on stage, a meke wesi, the singing of a Hebrew song “Halleluya La O Lum” and lastly the Isa Lei. Under the watchful eye of the Commanding Officer Fijibatt Lt Col Ratu Meli Saubulinayau and the Bandmaster Warrant Officer Class Two Jale Daucakacaka, the band rehearsed to perfection within 10 minutes. Band members knew how important this assignment was as being expressed by the Commanding Officer at each rehearsals.
It was a full to the brim auditorium on the day of the performance.
The 2FIR Band brought in colour and passion, delighting the audience with their brilliant spectacular marching displays. The unaccompanied singing of the Jewish song “Halleluyah O La Lum” and the Isa Lei topped off their show to a standing ovation from the large audience.
